Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed: Every Saudi should have access to AI health monitoring

Every Saudi should have access to real-time AI-driven health monitoring. That’s the vision of Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, who believes cutting-edge technology can revolutionize healthcare in the Kingdom. Speaking at the Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh, the investor and CEO of KBW Ventures called for AI-powered dashboards that track metabolic markers, predict disease risks, and optimize lifestyles.

His message is clear: It’s time for Saudi Arabia to embrace longevity tech, rethink healthcare, and turn aging from an inevitability into a preventable condition. “Aging isn’t the onset of disease; it’s the failure of medicine to treat the root cause,” he argued.

How would it work?

Forget traditional hospitals as the center of healthcare — Prince Khaled envisions a future where algorithms, not waiting rooms, shape personal health plans. AI, he explained, isn’t replacing doctors but making every individual their own “health CEO.”

Imagine a system that predicts health issues before symptoms arise. AI-driven models could scan personal data, simulate different health scenarios, and offer preventative strategies before a crisis hits. “We should be running simulations of every human body and predicting health outcomes before they happen. The data exists. We just need AI to make sense of it.”

His vision also extends beyond individual care. AI could power biotech innovation, accelerate clinical trials, and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in longevity research. “The Kingdom can lead in regenerative medicine, gene editing, and age-reversal therapies. A 100-year lifespan shouldn’t be a burden — it should be an advantage.”

Why does it matter?

The real crisis, according to Prince Khaled, isn’t people living longer — it’s people living sick longer. Healthcare, as it stands, is reactive. “We spend trillions on end-stage care instead of investing in tech that keeps people healthy for longer,” he pointed out.

A healthy population isn’t a drain on the economy; it’s a growth engine. “What happens when we add 20 high-performance years to a person’s life instead of 20 years of dependency? We flip healthcare from an expense to an investment.”

To make this shift, governments must prioritize longevity research as aggressively as they fund defense projects. Prince Khaled wants health-tech startups to get the same fast-tracked support as military contractors. “We can incentivize longevity-focused R&D. Governments should fund them, fast-track them, and make breakthroughs happen.”

The context

Saudi Arabia is already investing billions in futuristic projects — from NEOM to advanced infrastructure — but Prince Khaled believes the real game-changer is longevity. “The future of Saudi health isn’t about more hospitals and doctors. It’s about AI-driven longevity, proactive medicine, and ensuring every Saudi lives healthier for longer.”

He envisions the Kingdom as a biotech corridor, offering regulatory flexibility, AI-powered clinical trials, and public-private partnerships to accelerate innovation. “The countries that prioritize longevity will dominate the global economy,” he declared.

In his view, aging isn’t an unsolvable problem; it’s an engineering challenge waiting for a solution. And Saudi Arabia, with the right investment in AI-driven medicine, could be the country that solves it.